Rhode Islanders Encouraged To Share Their Favorite Books Dec. 2-8

PROVIDENCE, RI — Monday marks the beginning of the third-annual "Share Your Favorites" campaign to promote literacy in Rhode Island. Commissioner Angélica Infante-Green and the Department of Education are asking students, teachers and members of the community to tweet, post and 'gram about books they love on social media, all week long.

"Early literacy is part of the foundation of a child’s academic and lifelong success," Infante-Green said in a statement. "We need to prepare all children to be strong readers, and also instill in them a love of reading."

To take part, Rhode Islanders are asked to post about books they love, are currently reading, or that shaped their childhood on social media using the hastag #RIReads and tagging @RIDeptEd.

"It doesn't matter what topic they're reading about, or what language they're reading in - it all contributes to stronger literacy skills. That’s what ‘Share Your Favorites’ is all about," Infante-Green continued. "I invite all Rhode Islanders to join us on social media next week to help us to raise awareness of the importance of early literacy, and get our students and families excited about reading in school and at home."

Launched in 2017, the weeklong campaign was launched by the department and Rhode Island Children's Cabinet, a group formed by Governor Gina Raimondo aimed at raising the grade-level literacy rates in third grade by 2025. Students who read profiecently by third grade are far more likely to succeed in other subjects and are much less likely to drop out of school, the department said.